Overview

• The May 25 referendum will decide whether Mayor Mike Schubert is recalled, requiring both a majority vote and at least 25% voter turnout among 144,000 eligible residents.
• City council factions accuse Schubert of administrative failures and not implementing council decisions, calling for a political reset in Potsdam.
• The SPD Potsdam remains Schubert’s sole supporter, highlighting his citizen-focused and solution-oriented leadership since taking office in 2018.
• Schubert’s credibility was previously challenged by an investigation into free VIP tickets, which ended after he paid monetary penalties.
• If the recall succeeds, Potsdam will hold a new mayoral election within five months, potentially ending Schubert's term early, which is otherwise set to run until autumn 2026.